Expanded polystyrene beads in NJ?

November 9, 2006 7:00 AM

Help me make a beanbag sofa. Where can i find expanded polystyrene beads in NJ?

I really want to try to make this bean bag sofa but I can't seem to find any place that sells expanded polystyrene beads.

I live in NJ and I'd prefer finding a place either near Hackensack (near where I live) or near Piscataway (near my school).

Worst case scenario, I'd drive out of my respective county or try NYC.

Anyone have any idea where I could find this stuff?

posted by carpyful to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (5 answers total)

There is a foam shop in (I think) Union City, NJ. Look for foam in the yellow pages, there should be some dealers that do foam for matresses who could source your foam beads. The other option is to call furniture restoration people, who probably have scads of catalogs related to foam inserts for furnishing and could source you some foam beads at wholesale.
posted by parmanparman at 7:49 AM on November 9, 2006

If you don't have any luck with a local place, you could always get them online at the helpfully named Bean Bag Beads.
posted by cabingirl at 8:04 AM on November 9, 2006

Just be warned: It's going to take many, many more beads than you ever think you're going to need. I made a recliner-sized beanbag chair some years back, and it took a few carloads of styrofoam packing peanuts to fill it. Not necessarily my preferred fill material, but it was a "recycling" project for some design class or other. Computer shops were the best source by far for free peanuts. The styrofoam breaks down pretty quickly, so I wouldn't recommend using it as your only filler. (It did aid the whole recycling-beanbag theme for me, however, so I was happy. Still have it, too.)
posted by Vervain at 8:38 AM on November 9, 2006

Try Rempac in Clifton. Via thomasregister.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:41 AM on November 9, 2006

I have a chair from a company in Florida called Cordaroys. It is amazingly comfortable. It is filled not with beans, but with torn up bits of foam. I see mattresses made of the stuff all the time in Fred Meyer's. I think it is marketed as camper foam or something. Looking inside my big ol chair, it looks like they just randomly tore up several of these things and stuffed it full.

Just something to consider. I don't know if it would cost less, but if it does, rest assured that it is REALLY comfy.

(btw, Fred Meyer's is much like a super Wal Mart, I don't know if they have them in the east. GI Joes, or any sporting goods store should have the pads I am talking about.)
posted by Chickenjack at 10:06 AM on November 9, 2006